Method and means for maintaining web register in multicolor presses



Mar h 24,1936. c. F. DAUSMANN 2 4,694

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING WEB REGISTER IN MULTICOLOR PRESSESFiled May 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR March 24, 1936. c F,DAUSMANN 2,034,694

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING WEB REGISTER IN MULTICOLOR' PRESSESFiled May 5, 1955 2' SheetsSheet 2 gigs.

lI/IIIIIIIIIII/A ll VII/Ill INVIENTOR Charles EDausmarm RNEY PatentedMar. 2 1, 1936' UNITED STATES PATENT 'OFFHIE.

METHOD AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING WEB REGISTER IN MULTICOLOR PRESSES Thisinvention relates to an improved method and means for maintaining webregister in a multicolor web printing press.

In the art of multi-color printing upon paper or other web it isessential that the movement of the web between spaced printing couplesof the press be accurately controlled and exact registration of the webwith the printing cylinders be maintained, if the overlapping orunaligned superimposing of the different colors is to be prevented.

Perhaps the most successful means heretofore employed for this purposeis my prior invention, in which endless blankets extending betweenspaced printing couples are moved at the same speed as the paper web andin contact therewith, an example of which is disclosed in Patent No.1,482,356 issued to me on January 29, 1924. While the patented inventionhas given highly satisfactory results withincertain operating limits, itis not suitable for use in connection with modern high speed newspaperor other web presses owing to the high frictional resistance of themoving blankets.

It is, therefore, the general object and purpose of my present inventionto provide a new web registering method and means which is moreparticularly applicable 'to high speed multi-color printing presses, andwill unfailingly operate to secure perfect registration of the paper webwith the spaced printing cylinders and without in crease of theoperating power now required for the high speed multi-couplenewspaperpress.

To the above end I provide a method of web control which consistsessentially in mechanically gripping the paper web at spaced points inthe press, and particularly at each side of each impression roller,while permitting free linear movement of the web, to thereby positivelyprevent lateral shii ting or deviation of the web from its path ofmovement between spaced printing couples.

In a practical embodiment of my new method web registering rollers areemployed, each roller being provided with a multiplicity of web grippingcdges, uniformly distributed over its cylin-- drical surface. The paperweb, as it passes around and in contact with the periphery of therollers, is thus positively gripped at spaced points across the width ofthe web and securely held against shifting movement axially of theroller. Preferably, the web is subjected to air pressure'to forciblyurge the web into contact with said gripping edges. In one mechanicalarrangement the air may be directed against the printed side of the weband thus subserve the additional purpose of drying the ink after eachimpression. I

One of the detail objects of the invention is to provide a webregistering roller in the form of a hollow cylinder having longitudinalrows ofopenings in its wall, extending at a slight angle to the axis ofthe cylinder and providing gripping edges which progressively make andbreak contact with the paper web across the width of the latter as theroller rotates.

An additional object resides in the provision of a stationary suctionbox within the registering roller and connected at its opposite endswith a suitable air suction pump.

In an alternative embodiment, the wall of the 5 registering roller maybe provided with spaced suction cups having flexible walls projectingslightly from the periphery of the roller to afford the web grippingedges.

In general, my present invention aims to provide a web registeringmethod and means for high speed multi-color presses, which is readilyapplicable to standard presses of this type now in general use, withoutrequiring material alterations therein and at comparatively smallexpense, and which will efliciently function for the purpose in view atreasonable operating and maintenance costs.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in theimproved method and means for maintaining web register in a multicolorpress and in the several novel features of said method and means, aswill hereinafter be more fully described and subsequently incorporatedin the subjoined claims.

In the drawings, wherein I have shown several forms of apparatus bymeans of which thedesired web register may be obtained, and in whichsimilar reference characters designate corre-' sponding parts throughoutthe several views:

Figure 1 is a semi-diagrammaticview, illustrating one application of myimproved web registering method and means to a multi-color printingpress, certain of the parts being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, showing one form of web registering roller.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing another form of registeringroller.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. l v

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation illustrating a further alternativeform of the registering roller. 55

. drawings, in which I have shown, more or less diagrammatically, two ofthe printing couples of a multi-color web-press, each couple includes aprinting cylinder 5 and an impression roller 6. For convenience, I haveshown the printing couples in horizontally aligned, spaced relation,

with the impression rollers mounted above the I printing cylinders, but,it will be evident, from the following description, that my invention isalso applicable to any other desired relative arrangement of theprinting couples in the press frame.

Proper registration of the paper web, indicated at W, with the printingcylinders 5, whichv print thereon in relatively difierent colors, isobtained by means of a plurality of registering devices suitably mountedin the press frame. Each of these devices includes a web guiding andgripping member in the-form of a hollow cylinder roller 1. This webregistering roller, at its opposite ends, is provided with ball bearings8, co-

operating with trunnions 9 fixed in the frame, and supporting the rollerfor substantially frictionless rotation.

The rollers 1 may be of copper, brass or other metal and are of a lengthslightly exceeding the width of the web W. .The peripheral surfaces ofthese rollers are accurately ground and, if desired, may be covered by asheath of hard rubber or other suitable material. The latter, however,

is not essential, insofar as the effective functioning of my inventionis concerned.

In one embodiment of the invention, each registering roller 1 isprovided with a plurality of longitudinally extending rows of openingsor perforations I'] in its wall, and the sheath I, if employed, hassimilar rows of registering openings or perforations l2. Preferably,these openings are circular in form, and the rows of openings areuniformly spaced circumferentially of the roller and extendlongitudinally thereof at a slight angle to the axis of rotation of theroller, as clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. Thus theopenings in each row provide a multiplicity of spaced, web grippingedges which progressively make and break contact with the surface of thepaper web across the width thereof, as the registering roller rotatesabout its axis.

In conjunction witlf each web registering roller I I provide means forpositively urging the paper web into contact with the edges of theopenings II or l2. One such means may comprise a suction box I3, mountedwithin the hollow roller in fixed relation thereto. The rollersupporting trunnions' 9 are of tubular form to receive the pipes l4,connected with a suitable air suction pump and to opposite ends of thesuction box l3. This box is sector-shaped in cross-section and is openat its outer side along the entire length of the box. The edges of thebox walls are provided with suitable packing means l5, engaging theinner surface of the roller 1 to form an airtight connection therewith.The air suction efiect will thus be substantially uniform throughout thelength of the rows of openings ll, so that the paper web. at spacedpoints across its width, will be drawn or pulled with equal pressureagainst the edges of the openings I I, as the latter are progressivelybrought into engagement with one side of the web in the rotation of theregistering roller. The web is thereby momentarily frictionally grippedat a large number of spaced points of comparatively small area acrossthe width of the web. The latter is thus securely held against lateralshifting movement in the direction of the roller axis, but withoutsensible resistance to its free linear movement around the rollersurface or possible damage to the paper web.

In combination with the suction box I3, or independently thereof, forthe same purpose, I may use the air jet delivery pipes l6, arranged inparallel relation to the roller 1, closely adjacent to the point ofcontact of the paper web therewith. Each pipe is connected to a suitableair compressor and is provided with longitudinally spaced jet orifices,through which air is delivered against the side of the paper web whichreceives the printed impressions from the cylinders 5. Thus, the webwill be forced under pressure against the gripping edges of theregistering roller and at the same time the ink is dried in the movementof the web between spaced printing couples. However, such use of the airjets for the purpose of drying the ink is not claimed herein per se,since it forms the subject-matter of Patent No. 1,834,147, issued to meon December 1, 1931.

In the arrangement of the printing couples as shown in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, I preferably provide one of the web registering devices, asabove described, at each side of each impression roller 6, with the axesof the rollers l intersecting a common horizontal plane, above and inspaced relation from the horizontal plane of the axis of the impressionroller 6, so that there will be a minimum stretch of the paper webbetween the registering rollers l and the pass between the printingcylinder 5 and impression roller 6. In this manner any possibility ofside sway or lateral deviation of the paper web from its 'path ofmovement as it enters the pass to receive the printed impression ispractically obviated.

In addition to the web registering devices which are associated with theimpression roller 6, a pair of said devices is mounted above and insuitably spaced relation from each of the printing couples. The paperweb withdrawn from the roll 11, first passes over an idler roller l8,then under and around the tension .roller l9 to one of the upperregistering rollers I.

From this registering roller the web moves downwardly to the registeringroller I at one side of the impression roller 6 of the first printingcouple, which guides and directs the web to the pass thereof, to receivethe first printed impression in ink of one color. The web then movesupwardly over the registering roller 1 at the opposite side of theimpression roller 6 and over a second idler roller 20, to the otherregistering roller 1 of the upper pair of registering devices. From.this roller 1 the web moves over the upper and lower pairs ofregistering devices of the other printing couples in succession, each ofwhich makes a printed impression upon the web in a different color fromthe preceding printed impressions. It will be apparent that, by sucharrangement of the web registering devices, each of which has a positiveholding action upon the moving web to prevent lateral deviation of theweb from its path of linear movement, the differently colored printedimpressions will be accurately applied to the web surface, andoverlapping or unaligned superimposing of an ink impression of onecolorupon an impression of a contrasting color will be precluded.

drying of the ink impressions, as shown.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown amodified form of theweb registering device. In this construction the wall of the roller 1'is provided in its outer surface with rows of spaced circular recesses2|, which extend longitudinally at an angle to the axis of the roller.In each of these recesses a suction cup 22 of rubber, or other suitablecomposition material, is secured by means of a screw 23, passing throughan opening in the bottom wall of the cup and threaded into the tappedopening 24 in the wall of the roller.

The yieldable annular wall of each suction cup 22 projects slightlybeyond the periphery of the roller 1', so that the paper web W,contacting therewith as clearly seen in Fig. 8, presses said wall intothe recess 2|. Thus, the web will have smooth, continuous contact withthe periphery of the roller, while the edge of the cup wall, byfrictional gripping contact with the surface of the web, effectivelyholds the latter against axial shifting movement on the roller. Thesesuction cups act progressively to grip and release the web across thewidth thereof in the same manner as the registering device first abovedescribed.

From the above description the operation and several advantages of mypresent invention will be fully understood. Owing to the comparativelysmall area of contact of the web registering rollers l with the paperweb, and low frictional resistance to its linear movement, my inventionis applicable to the modern high speed newspaper press for printing in avariety of contrasting colors. It will be seen that the new method ofmaintaining web. registration is characterized essentially by themomentary progressive mechanical gripping of the web, over small areasthereof, across its width, at spaced points in the press, andparticularly at each side of the web pass of each printing couple. Highoperating speeds are therefore permissible, without injury or damage tothe paper web. This result is attained primarily by reason of the factthat the web gripping or holding means operates wholly independently ofthe web feed control, idly mounted roller 1 being rotated only bycontact of the moving web therewith and substantially without frictionalresistance to the linear movement of the web.

The several forms'of apparatus herein illustrated and described for thepractical application of my new method are, in certain respects, largelysuggestive, though, at the present time, I believe the same to be welladapted for the purpose in view.

However, since it is possible that my invention, in its essentialfeatures, might be exemplified in various other mechanical combinationsand structural equivalents of the several elements, the privilege isreserved of adopting such changes in these particulars as may fairly becomprehended within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, the step of mechanically gripping theweb at a plurality of spaced points across the width thereof andindependently of the web feeding means, to hold the web against lateraldeviation from its path of movement without sensible resistance to thelinear movement of the web,

2. A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, the step of mechanically gripping andreleasing the web progressively across the width thereof at spacedpoints, to hold the web against lateral deviation from its path ofmovement without sensible resistance to the linear movement of the web.

3. A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in feeding the web overa guiding surface, and positively gripping the web at said surface oversmall spaced areas of the web and with the web under constantpredetermined tension, to hold the web against lateral deviation fromits path of, movement without sensible resistance to the linear movementof the web.

4. 'A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in feeding the web overand in contact with a rotating cylindrical surface, and positivelygripping the web at said surface over small areas of the web uniformlyspaced apart across the width thereof, to hold the web against lateraldeviation from its path of movement without sensible resistance to thelinear movement of 'the web.

5. A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in contacting the webwith a rotating cylindrical surface, and positively gripping andreleasing the web at said cylindrical surface, progressively across thewidth of the web, over small laterally spaced areas thereof, to hold theweb against lateral deviation from its path of movement without sensibleresistance to the linear movement of the web.

6. A method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in feeding the web overa non-variable path through the press under constant predeterminedtension, and mechanically gripping and releasing the web across thewidth thereof at a plurality of spaced points in the length of the web,and over a comparatively small linear extent thereof, in the movement ofthe web past said spaced points to and from each printing couple of thepress, to thereby positively hold the web against lateral deviation fromits path of linear movement through the press.

7. The method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in progressivelygripping and releasing the web across the width thereof and adjacent toone side of the impression cylinder of each printing couple of thepress, to thereby hold the web against lateral deviation from its pathof linear movement through the press.

8. The method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in contacting the web ateach side of the impression roller of each printing couple of the presswith an idly rotating cylindrical surface, and positively gripping andreleasing small areas of the moving web at each of said rotatingcylindrical surfaces, to thereby hold the web against lateral deviationfrom its path of linear movement through the press.-

with the spaced printing cylinders of a multicircumferentially spacedweb gripping edges, and

positively urging the web at spaced points across its width intofrictional engagement with said gripping edges, to hold the web againstlateral deviation from its pathof movement without sensible resistanceto the linear movement of the web.

10. The method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in contacting a smalllinear extent of the web with an idly rotating cylindrical surface, andsubjecting the web on one side thereof and at spaced points across itswidth, to the influence of high pressure air, to urge the web at saidspaced points into frictional gripping engagement with correspondinglyspaced parts on said cylindrical surface, and thereby hold the webagainst lateral deviation from its path of linear movement through thepress.

11. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, means ateach side of the web pass of each printing couple mechanically grippingthe web across the width thereof, in the movement of said web through anon-variable path and under constant predetermined tension withoutsensible resistance to the linear movement of the web in relation tosaid means, to

prevent lateral deviation of the web from its path of movement throughthe press and maintain accurate registration of the web with theprinting cylinders of the respective couples.

12. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, webregistering means arranged at spaced points in the linear movement ofthe web through the press, each of said means including a rotatablymounted roller having contact with a comparatively small linear extentof the. web and rotated by contact of the web therewith, and meansassociated with said roller, acting to positively grip the web acrossits width at the contacting surface of the roller, and thereby maintainaccurate registration of the web with the printing cylinders of therespective couples.

13. In a multi-color web press havingspaced printing couples, webregistering means arranged at spaced points in the linear movement ofthe web through the press, each of said means including a rotatablymounted roller having contact with a comparatively small linear extentof the web and rotated by contact of the web therewith. and means forsubjecting the web section contacting said roller, on one side thereof,to the influence of high pressure air to positively urge the web atspaced points across its width into frictional gripping engagement withcorresponding spaced parts on the roller surface, and thereby maintainaccurate registration of the web with the printing cylinders of therespective couples;

14. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, webregistering means including a rotatably mounted roller, having contactwith a comparatively small linear extent of the web and rotated bycontact of the web .therewith, and means associated with said rolleracting, in the rotation thereof, to progressively grip and release theweb across the width thereof at laterally spaced points, and therebyhold the web against lateral deviation from its path of movement throughthepress.

15. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, webregistering means including a rotatably mounted roller rotated bycontact of the web therewith, said roller at its periphery having aplurality of longitudinal rows or web gripping edges, and means forurging small areas of the web, across the width thereof, into frictionalengagement with said gripping edges, to thereby-hold the web againstlateral deviation from its path of movement through the press.

16. In a multi-color web press having spaced printingcouples, webregistering means'including a rotatably mounted roller rotated bycontact of the web therewith, said roller being hollow and having aplurality of longitudinal rows of spaced openings in its wall, and airpressure means acting against one side of the web section in contactwith said roller, to urge small spaced areas of the I web intofrictional engagement with the edges of said openings, to thereby holdthe web against lateral deviation from its path of movement through thepress.

17. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, webregistering means including a rotatably mounted roller rotated bycontact of the web therewith, said roller being hollow and having a.plurality of longitudinal rows of spaced openings in its wall, and airsuction means, mounted within the roller, acting through said openingsupon spaced areas of the web to cause the same to frictionally grip theedges of said openings and hold the web against lateral deviation fromits path of movement through the press.

18. In a multi-color web press having spaced printing couples, webregistering means including a rotatably mounted roller, having contactwith a comparatively small linear extent of the web, said roller at itsperiphery having a plurality of longitudinal rows of spaced web grippingedges, extending in non-parallel relation to the roller axis, and meansfor causing small spaced areas ,of the web to be progressively gripped,across the width of the web, by the edges on said roller, whereby theweb is held against lateral deviation from its path of movement throughthe press.

19. The method of maintaining web registration with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press, which consists in feeding the webthrough the press in a non-variable path at a desired speed and underconstant predetermined tension, and subjecting a minor linear extent ofthe web at spaced points in the press to the influence of means actingindependently of the web feed control, to hold the web against lateraldeviation from its path of linear movement through the press.-

20. The method of maintaining web registra tion with the spaced printingcylinders of a multicolor press which consists in feeding the webthrough the press at a desired speed, and subjecting a minor linearextent of the moving web adjacent to' each cylinder tothe influence ofmeans acting progressively across thewidth of the web, and independentlyof the web feed control, to hold the web against lateral deviation fromits path of linear movement through the press.

Q CHARLES F. .DAUSMANN.

CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.-

Patent No. 2,034,694. March 24, 1936;

CHARLES F; DAUSMANN. I

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3,first column, line 70, claim 1, and second column, line 3, claim 2,

"A" read In a; page 4, second column, line 5, claim 15, for

that the said Letters Patent should be read with these 'cor that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Signed and sealed this21st day of April, A. D. 1936.

"or" read of; and recti'ons therein Patent Officer Leslie Frazer (Seal)Acting Commissioner r Patents.

for the article

